IMD predicts normal monsoon this year

The India Meteorological Department has said the country is likely to witness a normal monsoon this year. IMD Director General K G Ramesh told a press conference in New Delhi that the monsoon will be 97 percent of long period average (LPA), which is normal for the season.

He said that there was very less probability of a deficient monsoon. The date of onset of monsoon will be announced in the middle of May. The monsoon is considered normal if the average rainfall is between 96 to 104 percent of long period average. Anything less than 90 percent of LPA is termed a `deficient` monsoon, and 90-96 percent of the same is considered `below normal`.

The four-month monsoon season provides about 70 percent of the country`s annual rainfall.